A tragic shooting at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Dallas, Texas, has left one detainee dead and two critically injured. The suspected shooter, identified as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn, left behind a collection of notes revealing his intent to target ICE agents while attempting to minimize harm to detainees. Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Nancy Larson, disclosed that Jahn’s writings indicated a calculated plan to ‘maximize lethality against ICE personnel and property damage’ at the facility. Larson emphasized that Jahn did not intend to harm detainees, stating, ‘It is clear from these notes that he was targeting ICE agents and ICE personnel.’
FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted the evidence of extensive pre-attack planning, including a handwritten note that read, ‘Hopefully this will give ICE agents real terror, to think, ‘is there a sniper with AP rounds on that roof?” Larson confirmed that Jahn likely acted alone, describing the attack as a ‘targeted, ambush-style’ assault on law enforcement. The shooter fired at transport vehicles carrying ICE personnel and detainees, acknowledging the potential for collateral damage.
Jahn’s notes, found at his residence, included a detailed ‘gameplan of the attack’ and expressed his disdain for ICE employees, whom he referred to as ‘people showing up to collect a dirty pay check.’ Larson condemned the act as terrorism, stating, ‘What he did is the very definition of terrorism.’ Despite his hatred for the federal government, no evidence linked Jahn to any specific group or agency beyond ICE.
ICE Field Office Director Marcos Charles praised the bravery of federal agents who risked their lives to save detainees during the attack, calling for an end to ‘violent rhetoric’ against ICE. The incident underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in the United States.